Trump’s storage of classified documents renews questions about transfer of nuclear technology to Saudis
A search warrant newly unsealed on Friday reveals that the FBI is investigating Donald Trump for a potential violation of the Espionage Act and removed classified documents from the former president’s Florida estate earlier this week.
A receipt accompanying the search warrant, viewed by POLITICO in advance of its unsealing, shows that Trump possessed documents including a handwritten note; documents marked with “TS/SCI,” which indicates one of the highest levels of government classification; and another item labeled “Info re: President of France.”
Also among the items taken from Mar-a-Lago this week: An item labeled “Executive grant of clemency re: Roger Jason Stone, Jr.,” a reference to one of Trump’s closest confidants who received a pardon in late 2020.
The warrant shows federal law enforcement was investigating Trump for removal or destruction of records, obstruction of justice and violating the Espionage Act — which can encompass crimes beyond spying, such as the refusal to return national security documents upon request. Conviction under the statutes can result in imprisonment or fines. [Continue reading…]
Classified documents relating to nuclear weapons were among the items FBI agents sought in a search of former president Donald Trump’s Florida residence on Monday, according to people familiar with the investigation.
Experts in classified information said the unusual search underscores deep concern among government officials about the types of information they thought could be located at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago Club and potentially in danger of falling into the wrong hands.
The people who described some of the material that agents were seeking spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. They did not offer additional details about what type of information the agents were seeking, including whether it involved weapons belonging to the United States or some other nation. Nor did they say if such documents were recovered as part of the search. [Continue reading…]
FLASHBACK (FEBRUARY 2019): "Whistleblowers Raise Grave Concerns with Trump Administration’s Efforts to Transfer Sensitive Nuclear Technology to Saudi Arabia" pic.twitter.com/DvMeQmFxoy
— Judd Legum (@JuddLegum) August 12, 2022
[A 2019] House of Representatives report highlighted whistleblowers’ concerns with the Trump Administration’s “efforts to transfer sensitive nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia,” and was tweeted on Thursday by Judd Legum, who runs the Popular Information newsletter.
“We don’t know why Trump took classified nuclear docs,” Legum said in a follow-up tweet. “But certain nuclear information would have very high economic value to Saudi Arabia and other governments.”
Fordham University law professor Jed Shugerman tweeted: “Why would Trump want to keep nuclear documents?” “It is time to review the 2019 House Oversight Committee’s stunning allegations of nuclear corruption,” between the Trump administration and “Saudi/Qatar.”
That committee report made a number of accusations against the Trump administration, including that it tried “to rush the transfer of highly sensitive U.S. nuclear technology to Saudi Arabia.” This was without congressional review and in potential violation of the Atomic Energy Act that restricts the export of U.S. nuclear technology. [Continue reading…]